Abstract
The Great Lakes Region which constitutes of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda. The Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi is a region that has been invariable embroiled in wars and conflicts spanning decades. Broadly, a number of factors are responsible for this state of affairs ranging from social, cultural, economic and political factors. More specifically however, divergence in political thought and opinion, ethnicity, imperialistic tendencies, the struggle for wealth and natural resources, national movements for liberation and territorial ambition have been cited as some of the factors fueling civil strife in this region 1 • The immediate effect of these wars has been death of millions of people, displacements and destruction of property and infrastructure. Evidently a death blow has also been dealt on any development efforts in the region thus leading to poverty and suffering. Regional governments channel a lot of national revenue to respond to attacks and /or organize peace talks that often do not deliver any meaningful results. The democratic process which is an ideal for development has also been slowed down by this political instability.2 Outstandingly, all these conflicts have been able to defy all odds and persist in spite of enormous efforts by the concerned governments to end tern and restore peace and harmony. To explain this, it has been found that a systematic and thorough process of recruitrnent3 of ragtag armies constituted mainly of children as young as 12 years has fundamentally contributed to sustaining rebel armies4 other factors not withstanding. Among other reasons, children are easy targets for capture and abduction and often offer effective fighting forces suitable to the interests of perpetrators of rebellion. They also less question orders while others are easily impressed into any arrangement where they will be feared. 5
FREDRICK, S (2021). Recruitment Of Child Soldiers In Armed Conflicts In The Great Lakes Region: The Role Of Legal And Human Rights Instruments In The Protection Of Children's Rights. Afribary. Retrieved from https://afribary.com/works/recruitment-of-child-soldiers-in-armed-conflicts-in-the-great-lakes-region-the-role-of-legal-and-human-rights-instruments-in-the-protection-of-children-s-rights
FREDRICK, SSEMW "Recruitment Of Child Soldiers In Armed Conflicts In The Great Lakes Region: The Role Of Legal And Human Rights Instruments In The Protection Of Children's Rights" Afribary. Afribary, 12 Jun. 2021, https://afribary.com/works/recruitment-of-child-soldiers-in-armed-conflicts-in-the-great-lakes-region-the-role-of-legal-and-human-rights-instruments-in-the-protection-of-children-s-rights. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
FREDRICK, SSEMW . "Recruitment Of Child Soldiers In Armed Conflicts In The Great Lakes Region: The Role Of Legal And Human Rights Instruments In The Protection Of Children's Rights". Afribary, Afribary, 12 Jun. 2021. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. < https://afribary.com/works/recruitment-of-child-soldiers-in-armed-conflicts-in-the-great-lakes-region-the-role-of-legal-and-human-rights-instruments-in-the-protection-of-children-s-rights >.
FREDRICK, SSEMW . "Recruitment Of Child Soldiers In Armed Conflicts In The Great Lakes Region: The Role Of Legal And Human Rights Instruments In The Protection Of Children's Rights" Afribary (2021). Accessed April 27, 2024. https://afribary.com/works/recruitment-of-child-soldiers-in-armed-conflicts-in-the-great-lakes-region-the-role-of-legal-and-human-rights-instruments-in-the-protection-of-children-s-rights